Identification of co-expression gene networks, regulatory genes and pathways for obesity based on adipose tissue RNA Sequencing in a porcine model

Background: Obesity is a complex metabolic condition in strong association with various diseases, like type 2 diabetes, resulting in major public health and economic implications. Obesity is the result of environmental and genetic factors and their interactions, including genome-wide genetic interactions. Identification of co-expressed and regulatory genes in RNA extracted from relevant tissues representing lean and obese individuals provides an entry point for the identification of genes and pathways of importance to the development of obesity. The pig, an omnivorous animal, is an excellent model for human obesity, offering the possibility to study in-depth organ-level transcriptomic regulations of obesity, unfeasible in humans. Our aim was to reveal adipose tissue co-expression networks, pathways and transcriptional regulations of obesity using RNA Sequencing based systems biology approaches in a porcine model. Methods: We selected 36 animals for RNA Sequencing from a previously created F2 pig population representing three extreme groups based on their predicted genetic risks for obesity. We applied Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to detect clusters of highly co-expressed genes (modules). Additionally, regulator genes were detected using Lemon-Tree algorithms. Results: WGCNA revealed five modules which were strongly correlated with at least one obesity-related phenotype (correlations ranging from -0.54 to 0.72, P <0.001). Functional annotation identified pathways enlightening the association between obesity and other diseases, like osteoporosis (osteoclast differentiation, P = 1.4E(-7)), and immune-related complications (e. g. Natural killer cell mediated cytotoxity, P = 3.8E(-5); B cell receptor signaling pathway, P = 7.2E(-5)). Lemon-Tree identified three potential regulator genes, using confident scores, for the WGCNA module which was associated with osteoclast differentiation: CCR1, MSR1 and SI1 (probability scores respectively 95.30, 62.28, and 34.58). Moreover, detection of differentially connected genes identified various genes previously identified to be associated with obesity in humans and rodents, e.g. CSF1R and MARC2. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to apply systems biology approaches using porcine adipose tissue RNA-Sequencing data in a genetically characterized porcine model for obesity. We revealed complex networks, pathways, candidate and regulatory genes related to obesity, confirming the complexity of obesity and its association with immune-related disorders and osteoporosis

Nurses' perceptions of aids and obstacles to the provision of optimal end of life care in ICU

Contains fulltext : 172380.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Management of Chronic Pain Syndrome in Knee Osteoarthritis with Selective Embolization of Popliteal Artery Branches: Review

Background. Treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) in early stages as well as the pain syndrome associated with it usually suggests the combination of medicines and physical therapy means. However, no method has proven its absolute efficiency yet. Transcatheter arterial embolization of popliteal branches is a new minimally invasive treatment that is currently being studied and tested. The objective of our research was the analysis as well as generalization of the outcomes of the pain syndrome in knee OA treatment with the selective embolization of popliteal branches. Materials and Methods. The reviewed articles were retrieved from PubMed database and eLIBRARY digital library considering the criteria like the emboli material, size, and type; possible complications and their effect on the outcome; the patient enrolment criteria for this type of surgical management; the short and long-term outcomes. Results. Transcatheter arterial embolization of popliteal branches is a new minimally invasive method of knee OA treatment. All authors revealed the pathology growth of the vasculature and its complete embolization as a result of the intervention. The review articles present a significant abatement in patients resistant to conventional medical treatment, minimal possible complications, and good long-term outcomes. Conclusion. Since this method of knee OA management is new and understudied, and the number of the published findings does not exceed two hundred it required further thorough investigation and randomized clinical trials

RadioAstron gravitational redshift experiment: Status update

A test of a cornerstone of general relativity, the gravitational redshift effect, is currently being conducted with the RadioAstron spacecraft, which is on a highly eccentric orbit around Earth. Using ground radio telescopes to record the spacecraft signal, synchronized to its ultra-stable on-board H-maser, we can probe the varying flow of time on board with unprecedented accuracy. The observations performed so far, currently being analyzed, have already allowed us to measure the effect with a relative accuracy of 4 7 10−4. We expect to reach 2.5 7 10−5 with additional observations in 2016, an improvement of almost a magnitude over the 40-year old result of the GP-A mission